By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

HAVING missed out on three previous occasions, you can understand why Grainne McGoldrick wasn't exactly on the edge of her seat at this year's camogie All-Star awards. Having played all season at wing-forward and nominated in the full-forward line, it was only natural that she didn't much fancy her chances of bringing one of the illustrious awards back up the road from Citywest.

However, the Coleraine and Derry star this time made the cut. And in doing so became only the fourth Ulster player ever to scoop such an accolade. The announcement sparked what proved to be a very memorable night for Grainne and her family, as she took her place among the sport's elite.

"I never for a second thought that I was going to win an All-Star. I was nominated in the full-forward line even though I've never actually played there for the county. I played at right half-forward in the All-Ireland semi, so I figured I was just the token Ulster nomination. I thought if I'd any chance it would have been at right corner-forward, so when I wasn't named there I lost any hope I had.

"There were about 30 people down, family and friends and they went totally bonkers whenever my name was read out. Nobody could hear what Michael Lyster was even saying. It was a fantastic night and we all really enjoyed it."

McGoldrick is well aware of the fact that she is only the fourth player from the province to scoop an All-Star award, but she feels that is an unfair reflection of the talent in the province.

"I believe that there are plenty of players in Ulster who are good enough to win All-stars, but they're just not playing at a high enough level to get the recognition they deserve.

"Ulster has far more talent than it's given credit for and if we were playing in Cork or Kilkenny where camogie enjoys a higher profile, I honestly believe there would be many more All-stars coming north."

The 25 year-old was a late starter when it came to camogie, with swimming having been the traditional family sport and she only began the stick and ball game at age 12. The Portstewart, Portrush, Coleraine triangle wasn't exactly a GAA stronghold in the mid-90s, but her father introduced the game around 1995.

Those early sessions took place at Dominican College's hockey field in Portstewart on a Sunday morning, with four or five girls and about 16 boys. A number of students from Kilkenny and Galway were studying at University of Ulster, Coleraine at the time and were recruited to help train the technical side of the game, something which Grainne believes was of huge benefit to her development.

Next season will be her tenth in Oak Leaf senior colours and the attacker admits that it's been a very up and down decade for Derry as they move between the intermediate and senior ranks.

"Derry won the All-Ireland in 2000 and I joined the following season when Dominic McKinley became manager. I was 16 at the time. It's been very much up and down. You have the highs, but then you have the seasons where everyone seems to underperform.

"At the awards that night, one of the All-stars actually came over to me and said that she had watched our semi-final against Cork and that they were very impressed by us. She said that they had been keeping an eye on Derry and that they knew the talent was there. That it was only a matter of everyone pulling together.

"Grace McMullan was actually down and fitness tested the Galway senior team that got to the All-Ireland final last year and Ulster players came out far fitter than the southern teams. The difference is in the skill levels and I think that's what has to be focused on. I think you'll see Ulster teams up in that top division very soon and I'm hoping Derry will be one of them."

McGoldrick is working as a PE teacher in St Joseph's College in Coleraine, a school which doesn't exactly have a big tradition in Gaelic games. She admits that although many of the pupils have been congratulating her having seen her photo and story in the newspapers, they don't really understand what it was for. She's been enjoying introducing Gaelic games into the school, it's something new for the pupils and they've been enjoying the challenge, but the star forward insists they're not just ready to contest for schools titles just yet.

As for 2010, McGoldrick has clear aims. Success on the both club and county front is what she craves most, which comes before personal accolades. The challenge is there, they know where they have to get to and McGoldrick is fully confident that they can deliver.

"I'd love to win something with the club. I'd love a Derry senior championship title. We've been competing well and we have some very good young players coming through.

"With the county, we want to win the All-Ireland intermediate and get up to senior level. That's where we want to be, putting ourselves up against the best players and teams in the country and seeing how we get on. We've nothing to fear, it's just up to us to get the heads down and get on with it."